Establishing an ideal and optimal voice is such a key piece in the transition process for any transgender or non-binary individual. Often times, individuals will say that all else is in place but the voice either does not match the individual's true perceived identity or leads to misgendering. Voice reflects who we are as individuals and it is important to find a voice that matches who we are.  

 

A common myth is that transgender voice is all about changing pitch. While pitch is an important component, it's not all about pitch. 

​

We first work to find what the individual is looking for, what an ideal voice would sound/feel like to him/her/them, how he/she/they would feel with a voice that matched the perceived identity and even if there are different voices desired for different contexts. We'll delve into what the most frustrating speaking contexts are. 

​

Some common aspects we target in gender affirming voice therapy are yes, pitch, but also: 

• Resonance of the voice (how the voice is vibrating can change the perception of pitch and perception of masculine vs. feminine voice) 

• Intonation and pitch changes (these differ for males vs. females generally)

• Language use (both indirect language, direct language, social/pragmatic language, and non-verbal language)

​

Making the decision to commit to gender affirming voice services is often not an easy decision and can come with strong emotions like resistance in some form, fear, or hesitation.

​

We will set up an initial consult to discuss what your specific needs and desired goals are and will walk you through every step of the way. If you know that your voice does not represent you as an individual we can work to find one that does. It can be so freeing to not have to worry about your voice and how you may be perceived and to get back to living your life. 

​

While there are many YouTube videos and "self-help" videos out there, many are not based on evidence-based voice techniques and not based on physiology or appropriate rationales. They could do more harm than good! It's always important to work with a voice therapist to make sure you are doing techniques that will not cause harm, that you are given tools to achieve appropriate production relevant to your individual goals and voice, and that you understand WHY you are doing what you're doing and exactly how to get where you want to be. 

​

We'll outline everything about what to expect in treatment and you can feel comfortable knowing that we'll be there every step of the way to support you in this challenging but very exciting journey! 

​

Contact us to set up a free consultation to discuss what voice affirmation services looks like and see if we would be a good fit for your needs.